Egg transfer device

Abstract

An egg conveyor assembly is provided herein. The egg conveyor assembly includes a first conveyor extending in a first conveyor direction on a first height level, a second conveyor extending in a second conveyor direction perpendicular to the first height level. A transfer device adapted to transfer eggs from the first to the second conveyor includes an array of egg retainers. The egg retainers include pockets having a receiving opening at an upper end thereof to receive the eggs from above from the first conveyor, and are adapted to release the eggs at a lower end to drop the eggs in egg retainers of the second conveyor. The transfer device is movable in the first conveyor direction and in the second conveyor direction in a plane on a height level between the first height level and second height level.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An egg conveyor assembly comprising:
 a first conveyor comprising at least one lane of egg retainers that extends in a first conveyor direction (X) on a first height level, 
 a second conveyor comprising at least one lane of egg retainers that extends in a second conveyor direction (Y) on a second height level, wherein the first conveyor direction (X) and second conveyor direction (Y) are substantially perpendicular, and 
 a transfer device adapted to transfer eggs from the first conveyor to the second conveyor and comprising an array of egg retainers, said array having at least one row of egg retainers, wherein each row has a number of egg retainers that corresponds to the number of lanes of the first conveyor, and which array furthermore has a number of rows that corresponds to the number of lanes of the second conveyor, 
 wherein 
 the first conveyor and second conveyor cross each other, wherein the first height level is above the second height level, 
 the egg retainers of the transfer device comprise pockets having a receiving opening at an upper end thereof to receive the eggs from above from the first conveyor, and are adapted to release the eggs at a lower end to drop the eggs in the egg retainers of the second conveyor, and 
 the transfer device is movable in the first conveyor direction (X) and in the second conveyor direction (Y) in a plane on a height level between the first height level and second height level. 
 
     
     
       2. The egg conveyor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer device is adapted and arranged in such a way that the transfer device in a first stage of movement, in which the eggs are received from the first conveyor, moves in the first conveyor direction (X) with a velocity (v X ) synchronised with the first conveyor, and in a second stage of movement, in which the eggs are released to the second conveyor, moves in the second conveyor direction (Y) with a velocity (v Y ) synchronised with the second conveyor. 
     
     
       3. The egg conveyor device according to  claim 2 , wherein the transfer device is adapted and arranged in such a way that, in an intermediate stage between the first and second stages of movement, the transfer device is decelerated in the first direction (X) from a velocity (v X ) of the first conveyor to a velocity of preferably 0 m/s and is accelerated in the second direction from preferably a velocity of 0 m/s to the velocity (v Y ) of the second conveyor. 
     
     
       4. The egg conveyor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the egg retainers of the first conveyor has egg retaining pockets adapted to release the eggs at a lower end to drop the eggs in the egg retainers of the transfer device. 
     
     
       5. The egg conveyor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the egg retainers of the second conveyor comprise pockets having a receiving opening at an upper end thereof to receive the eggs from above. 
     
     
       6. The egg conveyor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises one transfer device. 
     
     
       7. The egg conveyor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer device comprises an outer carrying frame and an inner carrying frame, the array of egg retainers being supported in the inner carrying frame, the inner carrying frame being moveable along a first guide that is provided on the outer carrier frame, and the outer carrying frame being supported by a fixed second guide, wherein the first guide and the second guide extend substantially perpendicular. 
     
     
       8. The egg conveyor assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the first guide extends parallel to the first conveyor direction (X) and the second guide extends parallel to the second conveyor direction (Y). 
     
     
       9. The egg conveyor assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the array of egg retainers is removable from the assembly so as to allow cleaning.